Stetson Today » Sports & Recreationhttp://www.stetson.edu/today
Stetson TodayFri, 31 Jul 2015 19:15:56 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.3Hatters Picked 6th in Preseason Pioneer Football League Pollhttp://www.stetson.edu/today/2015/07/hatters-picked-6th-in-preseason-pioneer-football-league-poll/
http://www.stetson.edu/today/2015/07/hatters-picked-6th-in-preseason-pioneer-football-league-poll/#commentsWed, 29 Jul 2015 13:40:18 +0000http://www.stetson.edu/today/?p=15511Read more]]>For the fourth consecutive year, the University of San Diego has been picked to win the Pioneer Football League regular-season race in a preseason vote of the league’s coaches.

Stetson, which finished the 2014 season in a tie for sixth place, was picked to finish sixth in 2015, just the third for the Hatters program since bringing the sport back in 2013.

The PFL will announce its preseason All-PFL teams, Wednesday, followed by a preseason coaches teleconference on Thursday.

The upcoming 2015 season marks the 23rd year for the Pioneer Football League – the nation’s only non-scholarship, football-only NCAA Football Championship Subdivision conference. The league will feature 11 teams each playing an eight-game schedule to determine the league champion and recipient of the automatic bid to the 2015 NCAA FCS Championship.

Defending champion San Diego again received the coaches’ nod to win the 2015 PFL title, but the coaches also predicted an exciting race. The top three teams in the preseason poll were separated by just three points.

The bottom half of the poll begins with third-year program Stetson (6th, 54 points). The Hatters were followed by Marist (7th, 50), Morehead State (8th, 40), Valparaiso (9th, 37) and Davidson (10th, 22). Jacksonville was not ranked in the preseason poll and will not be eligible for the PFL regular season title while serving its league penalty.

Preseason All-American and returning PFL Defensive Player of the Year Donald Payne highlights the 2015 Stetson football squad. The redshirt junior safety set the PFL record and led all FCS tacklers with 175 stops last season and returns to anchor the Hatters defensive unit. The third-year Stetson program is not a one-man show as junior quarterback Ryan Tentler (152.8 yards per game, 17 TDs) and junior running back Cole Mazza (10 TDs, second-team All-PFL) returning on the offensive side. In addition, junior defensive back Chris Atkins returns to join Payne in the secondary after ranking second among PFL defenders with 18 passes defended last season.

The Stetson players will report back to campus for the start of training camp next Tuesday, Aug. 4, with the first practice scheduled for Wednesday night, Aug. 5, at 7 p.m.

The Hatters will open the 2015 season on Saturday, Sept. 5, against Webber International at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium in DeLand. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start. For information on tickets for the 2015 season contact the Stetson Athletics Ticket Office at 386-738-HATS or visit GoHatters.com/tix.

The Stetson University Football Women’s Clinic will be held Tuesday, Aug. 4, from 5:30-9 p.m. at the Athletic Training Center, located at 401 E. Minnesota Ave., on the DeLand campus. Space is limited to 100 women ages 18 and older. The cost is $75 per participant. Proceeds will benefit ME STRONG to help fight cancer.

The clinic will include classroom sessions, on-field drills and coaching, plus a post-clinic reception with the Hatter football coaching staff.

]]>http://www.stetson.edu/today/2015/07/football-womens-clinic-benefits-me-strong/feed/0Hatters Men’s Golf Adds Final Signee for 2015-16http://www.stetson.edu/today/2015/07/hatters-mens-golf-adds-final-signee-for-2015-16/
http://www.stetson.edu/today/2015/07/hatters-mens-golf-adds-final-signee-for-2015-16/#commentsTue, 28 Jul 2015 21:11:31 +0000http://www.stetson.edu/today/?p=15498Read more]]>Stetson University men’s golf coach Larry Watson announced today the signing of one additional player for the 2015-16 season.

Jared Nicolls, pictured right, comes to Stetson from Ponoka, Alberta, Canada, where he played for coach Ron Labrie at Ponoka Secondary. He was named Athlete of the Year for 2013 and 2014 while competing in volleyball, basketball and badminton in addition to golf.

“I am very excited for the team to have Jared join us at Stetson,” Watson said. “I think his maturity will help the team. I know Jared is a young man who understands the importance of making a quick contribution to the team.”

Nicolls was the 2013 and 2014 individual zone golf champion while also helping his team to a zone championship in basketball in 2013 and winning a zone doubles title in badminton in 2014.

He finished fourth at the Provincial championship in golf as a senior and was a member of the Team Alberta men’s golf team. He captured the 2014 MJT National Championship in the junior boys division and won the 2014 McLennan Ross Tour title.

“Coach Watson was the main reason I chose Stetson,” Nicolls said. “My parents love him and he is great at what he does. My goal is to help our team make it to the NCAA’s and then see where golf can take me.”

Christophe Noblet, Stetson’s Associate Head Coach for men’s and women’s tennis for the past two seasons, was recently promoted to men’s tennis head coach. The announcement was made today by Stetson Director of Athletics Jeff Altier.

Noblet, who will begin his fourth season overall with the Hatters this fall, replaces former Director of Tennis Pierre Pilote, who resigned in June.

“This is a well-deserved promotion for Christophe and is based upon his performance over the past three years,” said Altier. “Christophe had a tremendous mentor in Pierre Pilote and is poised to continue the advancement of this already outstanding program.”

Noblet has spent the past three seasons aiding Pilote with nearly every aspect of running Stetson’s tennis programs. Working primarily with the men’s team in 2014-15, Noblet helped guide the Hatters to a 12-10 overall mark and a berth in the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship semifinals for the third straight season.

“Pierre was a colleague, mentor, and friend to me,” said Noblet. “He gave me an opportunity to prove myself as a coach, and I will be forever grateful for that. I feel honored and humbled to serve as the new men’s tennis head coach, and I want to thank Stetson University President Dr. Wendy Libby, Jeff Altier and Associate A.D. for Compliance P.J Moses for trusting me in leading our men’s tennis team. I will work tirelessly to bring success and significance to this program.”

Since Noblet arrived at Stetson in the fall of 2012, the Hatters produced a total of 34 A-Sun all-conference honorees, including seven first-team selections. Included among those are former A-Sun Freshman of the Year selections Simon Julin (2013) and Loic Blanco (2015).

A native of France, Noblet played collegiately at Columbus (Ga.) State, where he earned national rankings in both singles (No. 2) and doubles (No. 31) in 2011. During the 2010-2011 season, Noblet earned All-American honors as CSU advanced to the NCAA Division II Final Four.

Noblet received his Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree at Columbus State University and his Bachelor of Science at Universite Du Sud in Toulon, France in 2009.

Former Cincinnati Reds organization pitcher and Embry-Riddle University assistant coach Dave Therneau has been named the pitching coach at Stetson University, Hatters head coach Pete Dunn announced on Monday.

Therneau recently enjoyed a highly successful eight-year stint as the pitching coach at Embry-Riddle in Daytona Beach. The Eagles went a combined 360-135 (.727) during that stretch and made seven trips to the NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho.

“It is with great excitement that we announce the addition of Dave Therneau as pitching coach and assistant recruiting coordinator,” Dunn said. “Dave brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from his seven-year professional career as well as his ultra-successful eight-year tenure at NAIA national powerhouse Embry-Riddle. Year in and year out, his pitching staffs have established a track record of success on the national level. Dave Therneau is a winner! He is recognized as a tremendous developer of talent and will work extremely well with recruiting coordinator, Mark Leavitt, in the recruitment of quality student-athletes.”

“It was an honor to even be considered for the position,” Therneau said. “During my eight years at Embry-Riddle, I was able to establish a good relationship with coach Dunn and coach Leavitt, and I am very excited to be joining the staff. I know Stetson Baseball is a great program with a great history, great facilities and great people.”

During his eight seasons at Embry-Riddle, Therneau’s pitchers combined to earn 17 All-American honors, while eight were selected in the Major League Baseball draft. This past June, Tyler Cyr was picked in the 10th round by the San Francisco Giants, and Zac Grotz was a 28th-round selection by the Houston Astros.

Therneau also tutored Eagle pitchers who claimed a combined 27 All-Conference honors, including three consecutive Sun Conference Pitcher of the Year accolades from 2009-11. In addition, an Eagle was named the league’s Pitcher of the Week 36 times during Therneau’s tenure.

In 2010, Embry-Riddle’s pitching staff led the nation in ERA at 2.63, and the Eagles ranked among the top 10 teams in the nation in ERA in seven of Therneau’s eight seasons.

Therneau was drafted in the ninth round by Cincinnati in 1998 and was one of the fastest moving pitchers in the Reds organization. In 1999, he went from Class-A Rockford to Class-AAA Indianapolis in a matter of months, finishing the with a stellar 14-5 record.

In 2000, an arm injury that required Tommy John surgery brought Therneau’s career to an abrupt halt. He was able to compete after extensive rehab, helping pitch the Schaumberg Flyers to the Northern League playoffs in 2003 and the New Jersey Jackals to a Northeast League title in 2004.

Therneau was an All-American pitcher at Bellevue (Neb.) University, helping lead the Bruins to a third-place finish at the NAIA World Series in 1998. Prior to Bellevue, Therneau was undefeated on the mound for Big 12 Champion Texas Tech in 1997. He also pitched in the Jayhawk Summer League, leading the league in wins, ERA and strikeouts.

Therneau was a two-time all-conference performer at Navarro Junior College in Corsicana, Texas and an All-State selection at Denton High School. He graduated from Bellevue University in 2000 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication.

Stetson Director of Tennis, Pierre Pilote, has announced his resignation after 22 years of coaching with the Hatters, Director of Athletics Jeff Altier announced today.

Pilote, the 2015 Atlantic Sun Conference Coach of the Year in women’s tennis, has accepted a position as the Executive Director of Tennis at the Shanghai-based American College Development Services.

“I want to thank the entire Stetson University community for being ‘my family’ away from home for the past 22 years,” said Pilote. “I want to thank all who have made me feel so comfortable over my career. I have been truly blessed to have been involved on a daily basis with such good people. But foremost, I want to thank all the special men and women who made coming to work each day such a pleasure. I am so proud of their successes in their post-college lives, both professionally and personally.”

“Pierre took over the men’s tennis team in 1993, and his impact was immediate and unforgettable,” said Altier. “As a leader, he taught commitment, personal discipline, and the skills of tennis as he created an environment which promoted success. Because of his guidance it wasn’t long before the men’s tennis team became the highest performing team in the classroom. A couple of years later the athletic success of the team followed suit. Over the years Pierre has coached both the men’s and women’s teams and regardless of gender his impact is always the same, when he is in command, academic and athletic successes are guaranteed.”

Pilote has served as men’s head coach since he arrived in DeLand in 1993, and added the dual responsibility of women’s head coach prior to the 2011-12 season. On March 9, Pilote earned his 400th men’s coaching victory when Stetson defeated Lehigh, 4-0. Pilote finishes his Stetson career with an overall record of 492-195 (.716), including 406 men’s victories.

“Pierre is a tremendous professional,” said Altier. “Over the years he has gained the reputation of being the coach most knowledgeable of NCAA rules, and the recruitment of international student athletes. Pierre has been a great coach for Stetson University.”

During his 22 years with the Hatters, Pilote coached a total of 47 Atlantic Sun all-conference performers, 26 all-freshman selections, and six A-Sun Players of the Year.

The success of the Hatters under Pilote certainly wasn’t only on the court; the Stetson tennis programs excelled in the classroom as well. The men’s team was named an ITA All-Academic Team nine times, including each of the last six seasons, while the women’s team earned the honor seven times, including each of the last three seasons.

A total of 65 men and 44 women were named an ITA Scholar-Athlete for achieving a GPA of 3.50 or higher the season under Pilote. In only four years of existence, the A-Sun Academic All-Conference Team – which recognizes success on and off the court – has been home to five Hatters: Njal Stene (2012), Maksim Levanovich (2012), Chester Espie (2013, 2014, 2015), Diana Bukajeva (2014), and Carolina Meregalli (2015).

]]>http://www.stetson.edu/today/2015/07/pierre-pilote-resigns-as-director-of-tennis-after-22-years-coaching/feed/0Russini, Former Catcher, Inks Free Agent Deal With Pirateshttp://www.stetson.edu/today/2015/06/russini-former-catcher-inks-free-agent-deal-with-pirates/
http://www.stetson.edu/today/2015/06/russini-former-catcher-inks-free-agent-deal-with-pirates/#commentsMon, 22 Jun 2015 19:12:07 +0000http://www.stetson.edu/today/?p=15195Read more]]>Former Stetson catcher/outfielder Garrett Russini will not have to travel very far to begin his career as a professional baseball player.

Russini, a Sarasota native and product of Braden River High, signed a free agent contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates and begins his career playing for the Gulf Coast League Pirates in Bradenton, Fla. Russini and his new team opened play on Monday with a road game against the Blue Jays.

Russini joins former Stetson teammate Patrick Mazeika as the most recent Hatters to have signed professional contracts. Mazeika was selected in the eighth round of the 2015 MLB Draft by the New York Mets and signed his agreement with the team late last week. Mazeika was assigned to the Kingsport Mets in the Appalachian League and will begin play tomorrow when the Mets host the Johnson City Cardinals.

Russini completed his Stetson career with a .270 batting average in 194 games over four seasons. He piled up 10 home runs to go with 45 doubles and drove in 99 runs in his career.

In Hatters coach Pete Dunn’s 36 seasons at Stetson the Hatters have sent 77 players on to play professional baseball. Of that group, nine have gone on to play in the Major Leagues.

The Atlantic Sun Conference Presidents Council will announce in a press conference scheduled for noon Friday, June 12, that the New Jersey Institute of Technology will join the Atlantic Sun Conference effective July 1, 2015, with competition to begin in 13 sports for the 2015-16 academic year. The addition of NJIT will bring the A-Sun membership to eight institutions for 2015-16. The Highlanders field 14 Division I sports sponsored by the A-Sun including baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track & field, men’s and women’s tennis and volleyball.

The addition of NJIT will bring the A-Sun membership to eight institutions for 2015-16. The Highlanders field 14 Division I sports sponsored by the A-Sun including baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track & field, men’s and women’s tennis and volleyball.

The Highlanders’ men’s swimming and diving team has been a member of the Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association for two years, which the A-Sun currently operates in partnership with three other Division I conferences. NJIT will be included in regular season schedules and eligible for individual awards, regular season and postseason team titles immediately with the exception of men’s soccer. Because of existing commitments, men’s soccer will play in A-Sun schedules beginning in the 2016-17 academic year. The addition of NJIT and the New York media market will also bring the A-Sun exposure in seven of the top markets in the nation.

“We have developed excellent working relationships with the Atlantic Sun Presidents and conference leadership. We share a commitment to academic excellence, the best possible quality student-athlete experience and the value of long-standing partnerships,” commented Joel S. Bloom, President, New Jersey Institute of Technology, “The quality of interaction with our colleagues in the Atlantic Sun has been invigorating, and we look forward to being part of what clearly is a remarkable conference at a very special point in its history.”NJIT, located in Newark, N.J., is a particularly good fit for the A-Sun, both academically and philosophically. With an enrollment of 10,646, NJIT’s has been recognized by U.S. News and World Report, Forbes, and the Brookings Institute, to name a few, for its success academically. The U.S. News Best Colleges edition ranked NJIT 149th among national universities overall for its range of undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degree programs and for its commitment to groundbreaking research. NJIT also ranked 14th among national universities on the Campus Ethnic Diversity list. Called an “America’s Top College” by Forbes, NJIT also checked in as one of the top 10 colleges and universities in the nation for high value-added in terms of occupational earning power. Additionally, CBS Money Watch called the institution a “hidden gem” in its 2015 “new ranking of college superstars.”

NJIT, located in Newark, N.J., is a particularly good fit for the A-Sun, both academically and philosophically. With an enrollment of 10,646, NJIT’s has been recognized by U.S. News and World Report, Forbes, and the Brookings Institute, to name a few, for its success academically. The U.S. News Best Colleges edition ranked NJIT 149th among national universities overall for its range of undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degree programs and for its commitment to groundbreaking research. NJIT also ranked 14th among national universities on the Campus Ethnic Diversity list. Called an “America’s Top College” by Forbes, NJIT also checked in as one of the top 10 colleges and universities in the nation for high value-added in terms of occupational earning power. Additionally, CBS Money Watch called the institution a “hidden gem” in its 2015 “new ranking of college superstars.”

“On behalf of my colleagues on the Atlantic Sun Conference Presidents Council, I am proud to welcome New Jersey Institute of Technology as the newest member of the A-Sun,” said A-Sun Presidents Council Chair and USC Upstate Chancellor, Dr. Tom Moore.

“We are very pleased to be able to expand in partnership with an institution that shares the primary A-Sun values of academic and athletic success. NJIT adds an institutional academic profile that makes a great fit with our membership, and the Highlander student-athletes achieve at a rate that meets the record-setting levels of the rest of the A-Sun.”

“We are delighted to welcome NJIT to the Atlantic Sun Conference,” Libby said. “Their membership enhances the strength of our conference and our institutions’ presence in the important New Jersey-New York metropolitan area. Most importantly, however, NJIT brings into our conference the same focus on student success, academic excellence and high-level athletic competition that our continuing members value. We look forward to a long association with NJIT.”

Stetson University Director of Athletics Jeff Altier paid a visit to the NJIT campus just last week and came away very impressed with both the dedication to having a successful athletics program, but also by the achievements the Highlanders have accumulated in recent years.

“Clearly, New Jersey Institute of Technology is a much stronger member for the Atlantic Sun Conference in all sports than NKU was,” Altier said. “They will strengthen our league in all sports, but particularly in men’s basketball, where they have enjoyed great success. With the dedication, funding and plans in place for new and improved facilities, as well as their proven track record of academic success, NJIT is a great match for our league.”

Stetson University, particularly the Hatters athletics program, regularly recruits students from the New Jersey and New York area and has almost 400 active alumni in that region of the country. The opportunity to take Hatters Athletics into that hotbed region to compete on a regular basis will only help to strengthen those ties.

“The New York and New Jersey area is one of the top out of state places where Stetson has traditionally drawn students,” Altier said. “Having a strong alumni base in that area, this partnership with NJIT means we can continue to connect with those graduates when our teams travel to compete there.”

For the fifth year, NJIT was named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, one of the highest federal recognitions a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning and civic engagement. NJIT joins seven current A-Sun members from the 2014 list.

A-Sun Commissioner Ted Gumbart added, “As we continue building the A-Sun, adding NJIT brings an overall institutional presence that will contribute academically, athletically, and with the overall student-athlete experience. We look forward to celebrating this announcement together and competing with them for championships this coming season.”

The efforts of the NJIT administration, Highlanders athletic department, and coaching staff have paid off as the Highlanders have achieved national, regional, and local recognition for their accomplishments on the playing field, including honors, titles, and awards earned as a member of the Great West Conference, the ECAC, and the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association.

However, the Highlanders’ crowning achievement came this year with a historical run by Coach Jim Engles and the men’s basketball program. Sporting the school’s first 20-win season, a signature win over the #17 ranked Michigan Wolverines in Ann Arbor, and a final regular season RPI that ranked the only Division I Independent as the 13th ranked “conference,” the Highlanders advanced to the semifinals of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament, the school’s first-ever postseason appearance.

In addition to expanding the scope of varsity sports offered at the Division I level, the administration and athletic departments have successfully funded the construction of three major campus athletic facilities: Wellness & Events Center ($100 million multipurpose venue, featuring a 3,500-seat basketball arena); Lubetkin Field at J. Michael Simon Stadium (an all-weather SprinTurf-covered soccer/lacrosse facility, which includes lights, seating for over 1,000 spectators, a press box and scoreboard); and the Naimoli Family Athletic and Recreation Facility (a 25,600 square foot indoor tennis and recreation center.)

“This is a great day for NJIT, our department, and most importantly our student-athletes,” said NJIT Director of Athletics Lenny Kaplan. “It has been an almost 10-year journey to find the right conference home for our athletic teams, and I am excited that the Atlantic Sun is that home. Many people have put in a lot of work to get to this point, none more than our coaches and student-athletes, and I hope they all get to enjoy this day and the opportunities that will follow.”

The Atlantic Sun Conference is an NCAA Division I league with eight member institutions committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun meets the challenge of maintaining the highest standards in academic and athletic achievement with a true balance between student and athlete. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts exposure in seven of the top 75 media markets in the nation. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University. New Jersey Institute of Technology will join the Atlantic Sun Conference effective July 1, 2015.

When visualizing a varsity, Division I collegiate athlete, a few things generally come to mind. This image is typically of an individual who grew up playing the sport. There is an assumption that besides academics, this person has no time or energy for much else. There is an understanding that this person has a deep knowledge of and experience in the sport. For the Stetson Rowing team, this is not the case. There are a number of student athletes who, prior to joining the team, had no experience whatsoever. So, why do it? What would motivate someone to want to be involved in a sport they know nothing about?

Enter Stetson rowers Abigail Thompson and Emmie Wenzell. The decision for these two to become members of the rowing team was made on a trip abroad in spring 2014. While the women, both sophomores at the time, travelled through scenic Brussels, Emmie mentioned to her friend that she was considering joining the team. Abigail said that at first she laughed when Emmie spontaneously said: “You know, I’m really thinking about taking up rowing.” But by the time their train reached its destination, Abigail found herself considering the option as well. They reached out to Head Coach Mark Wilson, who encouraged them to give it a try.

It is important to note that these two young women did not decide to make this decision because they were trying to fill any empty time in their schedules. Both young women are fantastic students, leaders on campus, and highly involved members of the Stetson community. Abigail is involved in Student Affairs activities such as Greek Life, Student Ambassadors, and FOCUS. Emmie, a self-designed economics and Chinese major, she is a member of LEAD team, chair of the Student Media Publications Board, is involved in the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, and created her own major. The best part about joining the rowing team was that none of this had to change. “I get to be involved in everything I love,” said Abigail. “That’s really important to me.”

Initially, the pressures of becoming a collegiate athlete were accompanied by the stress of learning the inner workings of the sport. While the concept of rowing may seem intuitive to outsiders, it involves an incredible amount of strategy and controlled physicality. “When you’re in a boat, you only have one scenario: your oar goes in and out of the water,” said Abigail. “But all of the things that go into making you a great rower are very strategic, minute moves that you can change.” She says that although she originally knew very little about the so-called “gentleman’s sport,” she is learning to become comfortable with the applied physics and consistency necessary to excel in a regatta. Then of course, there’s the simple fact that they are using muscles they may have never activated before. “I’ve never done a full-body sport,” Emmie said. “There’s constant soreness!”

On May 17, the Stetson Rowing team finished their 2015 season in the MAAC championship, and for many of the competitors in a Stetson uniform, their first season as a Division I athlete. For Abigail and Emmie, this experience has been personally rewarding, but more than anything, it has been an opportunity to be a part of something special. “We are a very young team in terms of experience,” said Abigail. “We’ve done a really great job still pushing ourselves to be a more competitive team. I think overall we have a lot of work to put in and a lot of places we could go, but for this season I’m just really impressed with what we’ve accomplished and the athletes that I get to work with.”

by Sarah Frohnapfel

]]>http://www.stetson.edu/today/2015/05/tip-of-the-hat-to-womens-rowing-team/feed/0Stetson Athletics Programs Fare Well in Annual APRhttp://www.stetson.edu/today/2015/05/stetson-athletics-programs-fare-well-in-annual-apr/
http://www.stetson.edu/today/2015/05/stetson-athletics-programs-fare-well-in-annual-apr/#commentsThu, 28 May 2015 21:52:04 +0000http://www.stetson.edu/today/?p=14921Read more]]>The NCAA announced results this week of the multiyear Academic Progress Rate report for all Division I athletics teams. For Stetson University, the report revealed almost half of the Hatters programs with perfect, or near perfect, scores.

Implemented in 2003 as part of an ambitious academic reform effort in Division I, the Academic Progress Rate (APR) holds institutions accountable for the academic progress of their student-athletes through a team-based metric that accounts for the eligibility and retention of each student-athlete for each academic term.

The APR emerged when Division I presidents and chancellors sought a more timely assessment of academic success at colleges and universities. At the time, the best measure was the graduation rate calculated under the federally mandated methodology that was based on a six-year window and did not take transfers into account.

The APR is calculated as follows:

Each student-athlete receiving athletically related financial aid earns one point for staying in school and one point for being academically eligible.

A team’s total points are divided by points possible and then multiplied by 1,000 to equal the team’s Academic Progress Rate.

In addition to a team’s current-year APR, its rolling four-year APR is also used to determine accountability.

Currently, teams must earn a 930 four-year average APR, or a 940 average over the most recent two years, to participate in NCAA championships. In 2015-16 and beyond, teams must earn a four-year APR of 930 to compete in championships.

While the APR is intended as an incentive-based approach, it does come with a progression of penalties for teams that under-perform academically over time.

Among Stetson Athletics’ 16 NCAA sports – men’s rowing and sand volleyball are not NCAA championship sports – 15 performed above, or well above, the 930 minimum on the four-year APR in the most recent report. The highest achieving programs included men’s and women’s cross country (both with a 1000 APR), volleyball (1000), men’s tennis (991), women’s golf (989) softball (981) and men’s soccer (976).

Other programs that were well above the 930 minimum included women’s tennis (973), women’s soccer (969), baseball (966), women’s rowing (962), women’s basketball (957), women’s lacrosse (956) and men’s golf (950). The football program has an APR of 931, but that number includes just two years of data.